USA > Florida > Twenty-five years of organized work in Florida and Georgia by Church of the Brethren, from 1925 to 1950 > Part 1
USA > Georgia > Twenty-five years of organized work in Florida and Georgia by Church of the Brethren, from 1925 to 1950 > Part 1
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A HISTORY OF THE BRETHREN IN FLORIDA AND GEORGES 1925 TO-1950
Twenty-Five Years of Organized Work in Florida and Georgia by
Church of the Brethren
from 1925 to 1950
Work up to 1912 was independent; a part of N. and S. Carolina for 13 years.
by
JAMES H. MORRIS
Author of "Forty Lessons in Acts and Epistles of Paul," "Outline of Redemption," "Facts of Church and State," "Outlines in Church History," "History of the Brethren in Texas and Oklahoma," "Outlines on the Book of Hebrews."
Published by
JAMES H. MORRIS Hartville, Missouri
TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE
From the library of
Adelle Frank.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE 5
FOREWORD 7
Chapter I
CHURCH VENTURES:
Keuka and Hawthorne, 11/27/1884
.13
Indian River, 4/22/1896
.18
Chapter II CHURCH PIONEERS:
Tampa (Zion) Church, 2/15/1912 20
Clay County Church, 3/15/1914 26
Arcadia Church, 5/13/1914 30
Seneca Church, 2/13/1915
34
Sebring Church, 12/12/1916 40
Chapter III CHURCH EXTENSION:
Chosen Church, 5/4/1922 49
Lakeland Church, 1/18/1925 50
Winter Park Church, 2/15/1925 .54
Brooksville Church, 3/8/1925
59
3
16978
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1000
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10/04/1.
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Chapter IV
CHURCH MISSIONS:
Crate Mills Mission, 2/26/1922 64
Glenside Church, 6/2/1929 66
Sunnyland Church, 9/26/1929
.67
Bassenger-Okeechobee Church, 11/4/1934
71
Miami Church, 6/16/1935
77
Jacksonville Church, 7/12/1942
82
Chapter V CHURCH ACTIVITIES:
Children's Work 85
Life Conferences 90
Summer Camps
94
"Florida Live Wires"
101
Chapter VI CHURCH SUMMARIES:
Silver Trophy Members
103
District Meeting Tables
106
4
PREFACE
In this brief history of the work of the Church of the Brethren in the District of Florida and Georgia, I might have selected a few of the out- standing workers and made them appear as heroes by collecting all the work they did in building up the churches, but I prefer to see the many teams that built it up. Some broad-minded, self-sacri- ficing Northerners came into a community and naturally found that same type of Southerners and the two working together built up a strong Church by Brethren team work. If the Northerner wanted to be the whole team his work did not appeal to the rest of the group and the work was slow and never prospered as it should. We are glad to note that the organic difference between the North and South is breaking down, and much more is being accomplished in Church as well as secular work.
No doubt, it would be interesting to you to know how Brethren and Sisters responded to my calls for information about their families and church activities. Most of them were helpful but slow about getting it to me but in one extreme case, one good Sister would not even tell me anything about her deceased husband. She has a self-addressed envelope with postage paid on it yet. I wish I had space to give the names of all my loyal helpers
5
6
PREFACE
but space will not allow that, but to all I wish to send a hearty Thank You for your help.
Possibly you will find some omissions of what you consider important matters or some mistake in some of the facts that have been put into the Book. Maybe the error is mine or maybe some of my helpers gave it wrong but I am willing to bear my part of the responsibility and beg your pardon, for no error has been intentional but acci- dental and we are all finite beings. This collect- ing and editing has been freely a labor of Love and will you accept as it has been given?
August 31, 1953. JAMES H. MORRIS
FOREWORD
In introducing this small book of Historical Facts about the Church of the Brethren, we need to acquaint you with a few facts about the Com- mercial standing of the State: its land area was first under the Spanish Flag 1559 to 1718; a French Flag for five years; Flag of Great Britain 1819 to 1821; and then under the Stars and Stripes since 1821. While under the Spanish Flag, the City of St. Augustine was built (1565). The land area is equal to the combined area of the six New England States. The soil is mostly sand and muck, the sand being underlaid with Red Clay sub-soil. This sand and clay soil extends most of the way from Escambia County thru the center of the State to Highlands County, about 600 miles. The State ships a trainload of farm products every hour of every day thruout the year; ships 15,000 car- loads of strawberries; 25,000 carloads of Grape- fruit; 30,000 carloads of Oranges; 12,000 carloads of Tomatoes; 7,000 carloads of Celery (from Sanford) ; Manufactured goods worth $150 million. These figures represent the Annual output. The State could supply the world with sugar, if given a chance. Florida was admitted as a state March 3, 1845; its Capital is Tallahassee and largest city is Miami with Jacksonville and Tampa not so far behind in population; its traffic is routed over Railroads, Bus- es or Airplanes. There are five Railroads with
7
8
FOREWORD
4,000 miles of track; thousands of miles of the best hard-surfaced roads found anywhere; Landing Fields for Airplanes near every large city; several good harbors for landing large Sea-Going Vessels from all parts of the world; it has the largest Sponge industry in the world; it has the largest Apiary in the World. When U. S. bought it from Spain, it cost about 11 cents per acre; there are 250 different varieties of crops, nuts, fruits and vegetables grown and shipments average one car every six minutes, day and night, the year round; it has six hundred varieties of fish; it has no bonded debt; Quoting a bit from the St. Augustine Record of about twenty- five years back will help to summarize some things: "Do you think of your Florida as a Tourist resort or as a place to grow oranges or as a place to fish and enjoy the sunshine? Or do you go farther afield and find that the Cucumber crop this year brought the growers $1,000 an acre? Plant City shipped over three million quarts of strawberries? The water melon crop brought $2,000 per acre? . . These are only a few figures to show that Florida is not only the Playground of the nation but also the Market Basket of the world. And then re- member that our average temperature is as fol- lows, June 80, July 82, August 81, September 78 over a period of fifty three years. Farming, fruit growing, bulb growing, cattle, hogs, poultry in- dustries and commercial enterprises of all kinds .... make up the picture of Florida that beats the world and the world is finding it out."
9
FOREWORD
The author may not need much introduction to most of the readers of the Book but these few facts may clear up for the stranger who he is and where he came from. He was born six miles south of Everett, Penn'a. along the Tussey Mountains, August 31, 1876. Began his school work six years later in Rays Cove in a five-month school. Began teaching in a one-room school in 1898 in Hopewell Township, north of Everett about six miles. Se- cured a State Permanent Certificate in Penn'a. in 1902. Entered Manchester College to study Bible and assist in teaching Mathematics, to help pay expenses. Entered Bridgewater College as teach- er of Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry in Sept. 1906. In 1909 finished the work at Valparaiso Uni- versity for Science and Arts Degrees. After a year as Principal in Herrin High School and two years in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he re- ceived the Degree Th.B. in May 1912. Secured the M.A. Degree from Manchester College thru re- search work at several universities and Bethany Bible School.
In working his way thru College, he scrubbed floors, waited tables, taught in Winter and went to school in Summer, assisted in Mathematics at Manchester and Bridgewater Colleges. While do- ing Evangelistic work in Oklahoma, he conducted Bible Institutes, using outlines worked out for the occasion: "Forty Lessons in Acts of the Apostles and Epistles of Paul" and "Outline of Redemption" He did some Pastoral work, teaching High School
10
FOREWORD
and almost five years of teaching Bible and Church History at Bethany Bible School. While teaching at Bethany, he collected and published a History of the Church work of the Brethren in Texas and Oklahoma. In his fifty-one years in the Ministry, he has preached one or more sermons in twenty of the States of the Union, having been in or passed thru forty of the forty-eight States. After eighteen years of the last twenty-nine in the State of Florida, he is offering to you what he has found out about the doings of the Church of the Brethren in the District of Fla. and Ga.
The Son of Elder J. H. Moore, James M. Moore has this to say about his work and knowledge of Florida: "It was in March of 1884, when I was a bit past eight years of age, that my parents moved from Mt. Morris, Illinois to Keuka, Florida. From then until I was fifteen we lived five years at Keuka and two years at Waycross, Georgia. Hence I partially grew up among the beauties of the South- land.
I distinctly remember the simplicity of life in that Keuka community. The little Churchhouse was simple indeed, neat but for several years with no ceiling or plastering on the inside. It was a place of worship, and as such it was greatly ap- preciated. I have never seen more earnestness in church and Sunday School work than was manifest in those people in Putnam County, Fla.
During those several years we had no series
11
FOREWORD
of revival meetings yet frequently there were those to be baptized. Those gatherings for baptism at the lake about fifty yards from the church are still vivid in my memory. My baptism there in Feb. of 1887 makes the place especially sacred to me.
Those early experiences have had much to do with my continued special interest in the work in Florida. I have always rejoiced in the reports of the Church's progress. Since the beginning of the work at Sebring in 1916 I have made a dozen trips to the State, visiting my parents, for special meetings and a couple time on business.
At various times I have felt a special desire that I might have the opportunity to invest some of my life in helping to promote the work of the kingdom in Florida, but somehow the way never opened. My help has been confined to prayer, occasional visits and some small contributions in money. I have great hopes that the church in the Southland will grow year by year."
In response to my invitation to say something about Church work in Florida, Dr. Ernest Davis writes the following: "Early in 1951 I held a meeting for eight days at the Winter Park Church and a year later was at the Sebring Church for a similar period in their Bible Institute. I was well impressed with what I saw in both places.
Winter Park has a good congregation of resi- dent people with a solid type of leadership. The business and cultural advantages of the area are
12
FOREWORD
excellent. Our people have a good standing in the community. I like the community, the church people and the future prospects there.
The Sebring Church has an excellent church plant, a substantial local membership, and a phe- nomenal tourist congregation during the Winter season. Many of the tourists come back year after year, and quite a number have bought residential property and regard Sebring as their home. These people naturally have a great interest in the church program and participate actively in it. The Sebring Church does a good job of ministering to these tourists and in return receives considerable support from them. The pastor of this church has an op- portunity for a unique ministry in the Church of the Brethren.
While in Florida, I saw something of Camp Ithiel. The District is using imagination, vision and good judgment as well as investments of time and money, in its Camp development program.
With so many attractive features of climate, recreational facilities, and business opportunities appealing not only to winter tourists, but also to those seeking a place for profitable living and/or comfortable and economical retirement, Florida has much to offer. With the congregations and facili- ties we have already established, the Church of the Brethren should aggressively and expectantly seek a growing future in the State."
Chapter I CHURCH VENTURES
KEUKA AND HAWTHORN CHURCHES 11/27/1884.
In 1882 William Woodard and wife of Iowa moved to Florida, locating near Manatee but later moving to a farm about ten miles Southeast of Manatee. Here they remained raising oranges till 1900. After Elder C. D. Hylton located near the Hawthorn Church in 1896, he made a trip to St. Petersburg to find Sister Mohr and then went on south to visit Bro. and Sister Woodard. He held some meetings here but none were added to the Church so they decided that possibly the place was not suitable for building up a church. Several years later Brother Woodard and family moved to Fruitdale, Alabama then to Roanoke, Louisiana and later to Kinder where Brother Woodard died in the Summer of 1931 at the age of 82. His son John lived for sometime in Ohio, near New Carlisle.
Soon after their settlement in Florida, Bro. Woodard sent a communication to the Messenger at Mt. Morris, Ill. and it fell into the hands of the editor, J. H. Moore who wrote to him and secured some literature about Florida. Also, about this
13
14
HISTORY OF FLORIDA AND GEORGIA
time a prominent nursery man who had gone from Illinois to Putnam County, Fla. got in touch with Bro. Moore and their acquaintance led to his com- ing to Florida to look over his holdings with a view of settling there. In the latter part of Jan. 1884 Bro. Moore came to look over the proposition Mr. Mann had. From Palatka they went west to Mannville, arriving on Saturday evening and the following day Bro. Moore preached twice. No doubt these were the first sermons preached by a minister of the Church of the Brethren in the state of Florida.
When Brother Moore returned to his home in Mount Morris, he talked the matter over with his wife who was suffering with Tuberculosis and they decided that residence in a milder climate would be beneficial for her. Brother Moore at once re- signed his position as managing editor of the Mes- senger and by the middle of March they were in Keuka, Florida. Besides the small store, Post Of- fice and Depot there was a half-finished house by the lake. Brother Moore, his wife and three chil- dren moved into it. The third day the children took down with the measles. No services were held on this first Sunday but on the second Sunday Bro. Moore called all the surrounding people together at the Depot and a Sunday School was organized, the first Sunday School in Florida by the Church of the Brethren. About one-fourth mile from the Depot on the southside of the lake, Brother Moore se- lected a site for their home and a house was soon
15
CHURCH VENTURES
erected and they moved into their permanent home.
After about six months Bro. John Teeter arrived from Mount Morris. Being a merchant he brought his goods along and opened up a store. Brethren Moore and Teeter talked the matter over about building a house of worship and each pledged half toward the erection and cost. So with some help from the North, a house was soon ready for use and the Sunday School was moved into it. Since there was no school house in the village, the church house was used for day school five days a week and for Sunday School and Preaching on Sunday. Miss Libbie Swank was the teacher of the day school. She and her sister had bought near the Moore home and brought their mother and brother with them from Pitsburg, Ohio. On November 27, 1884 they met together and organized a church of the Brethren in the Sunshine State. The first Love Feast to be held in it was January 29, 1885. There were forty-five members around the tables and nine of them were ministers. Eld. S. T. Bosserman offi- ciated at the Feast. Soon the membership had grown to fifty in this organization.
Another group of members settled near Haw- thorn, about sixteen miles west by rail but only twelve miles thru the woods. In this new location the land was more fertile and more homes were in the settlement. Among the ministers to move here to labor in the Lord's work was J. C. Layman of Franklin Grove, Ill. Also, a Brother B. F. Bowser,
16
HISTORY OF FLORIDA AND GEORGIA
tho he soon passed away and was laid to rest (his grave being the first grave of a Brethren Minister) Also, Brother J. F. Hoke lived here and at Keuka at different times. In these times Brother Andrew Hutchinson held meetings in both congregations. Because of his familiarity with the scripture he was called the "Walking Bible."
The house of worship for the members at Haw- thorn was possibly built in the early nineties and was named the Pine Grove Church. The Sunday School and Preaching continued thruout the year but were not so well attended during the Summer but when the tourists returned in the Autumn it was built up again. Among the tourists was an elder by the name of T. C. Denton of Cloverdale, Va. who rendered much assistance. A number united with the churches at different times, princi- pally young people and were baptized in the lake beside the church in Keuka. About this time Brother Moore took a job with the nursery near Waycross, Georgia to replenish his finances. He re- mained with them two years before returning to Keuka. About this time or after seven years in the South, Bro. Moore was recalled to Mt. Morris to help out on the Messenger Staff. This move necessitated having another Overseer for the Church so Bro. F. W. Dove was called to Keuka from Tenn. to help ordain one. Bro. E. J. Neher was ordained and given charge of the work of the two churches and he did it efficiently.
In the early part of March 1895 when the trees
17
CHURCH VENTURES
were in fine shape and full of sap, there came a cold wave and froze ninety-five percent of the citrus trees to the ground. A like freeze came two years later. Many of the people from the North gave up and went back home to live and that meant our people at Keuka and Hawthorn too. Brethren J. F. Hoke and J. I. Miller and families went to Lou- isiana. Also, the Elder, E. J. Neher left about the first of the year 1897. Eld. C. D. Hylton, who had been spending a year in Evangelistic work in Lou- isiana moved to Hawthorn, Nov. 27, 1896 to see what could be done among the scattered members. On April 10, 1897 an election was held for minister and the lot fell on David E. Sower. At this time the General Mission Board directed Bro. Hylton to look up all the groups of members in the State, hence he went to Manatee County as mentioned above and also to Wabasso in the Indian River neighborhood.
On May 6, 1899 Bro. Hylton installed J. N. Overhultz into the Ministry. After more than two years in the State, Bro. and Sister Hylton moved back to Virginia and the work was left in the hands of the young ministers. Bro. A. B. Barnhart was sent to Keuka to ordain Brother J. N. Overhultz to the eldership. With Bro. D. E. Sower to help him, Bro. Overhultz undertook the job of holding the workers together and to build up a strong church again but the task was too great for the young men in the ministry. About 1905 or the year following the church house at Hawthorn was sold and the
18
HISTORY OF FLORIDA AND GEORGIA
money deposited with the General Mission Board. This money was paid back to the Florida Mission work in 1926. After the members had all moved from Keuka, no services were held in the church by the lake. In 1926 some of the citizens of the community purchased the house for a Community Church. The sale was made and the deed delivered to the new owners during the year 1928 and the funds turned to the Mission Board Treasurer for the work of the District.
THE INDIAN RIVER CHURCH 4/22/1898
The Yearbook of 1897 gives the address of J. R. Leatherman at Woodley Florida. A bit later I. W. Leatherman was in the same community. From the memories of Sister Mary Leatherman and Elder C. D. Hylton, the following is put to- gether as the history of the work.
Brother Hylton said he made two or three trips there under the direction of the General Mission Board. With the assistance of Elder Samuel Eby he organized the Church, April 22, 1898, with seven- teen (17) members. The next day five were baptized and then the third day another was baptized. One year later Brother Hylton held a ten-day meeting for them. At this time the Indian River Church was the most southern organization in the Fra- ternity in the United States.
Sister Leatherman gives the names of the mem-
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CHURCH VENTURES
bers that made up the organization: Mr. and Mrs. Gifford and two children; Mr. and Mrs. Wigfield and three daughters; Mr. and Mrs. Stuff; Ruby Gif- ford; Mr. and Mrs. King; Mary, Jessie, Sallie, Sadie, Lucy, Isaac W. and J. R. Leatherman. The organi- zation lasted but a bit more than a year. Other members moved into the community but had no organized church nor did they form one. In the early thirties, the District man visited there several times among the ones that were still there: Sister Alice Eby; Brother and Sister C. S. Beers; the E. E. Smith family; one of the Wigfield girls. Elder Samuel Eby had passed to the beyond several years before and Sister Beers passed away in 1932.
Chapter II CHURCH PIONEERS
THE TAMPA (ZION) CHURCH 2/15/1912
Bro. J. V. Felthouse and wife moved to Florida (near Seminole) from Logansport, Indiana in the year 1911. Also some other members had located in other parts of Hilsborough and Pinellas counties to make their homes. These new people soon began talking about an organized church to include these scattered members. A meeting was called at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. McKillip on February 15, 1912. Eld. Geo. A. Branscomb of N. Carolina called the meeting to order and conducted the de- votions. Eld. P. J. Blough was chosen for moderator. The church was organized with 12 charter members. At this same meeting a choice was held for deacon and Isaac Cripe was chosen. He and his wife were duly installed. Also, Bro. Abram Buck was chosen for the presiding elder. Soon after the organiza- tion a meeting was held and six were baptized, among which were J. H. McKillip and wife and her sister, Cora Cripe. Two days after the organization a Communion Service was held at the same place. Another Communion Service was held two years later on April 3, 1914, at which a number of visitors
20
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CHURCH PIONEERS
were present, Eld. J. H. Moore, Bro. S. B. Kather- man, Bro. Eli Cassel, Bro. Joseph Prellis, Bro. B. F. Lightner, Bro. William Borough, and sisters Borough, Lydia and Minnie Wright. The J. H. McKillip home was the meeting place for five years. Many occasional meetings were held at the J. V. Felthouse home and possibly some of the regular ones, for the organization had no house of worship and did not have till after the mid-twenties. When the church was organized Bro. Felthouse was no Elder but was ordained Jan. 4, 1913. Sometime after this ordination, Bro. Felthouse was chosen the presiding elder and continued in that office till his death October 28, 1925. At the December Business Meeting, Bro. Garst was chosen to direct the work of this Zion Church as its Elder. A custom grew up in the group to meet for a Missionary meeting and a Communion at Thanksgiving time each year and it was continued till they had a Church House.
Early in 1926 Mrs. Viola May and Mrs. Roberts began getting their children into the May home on Sundays for a Sunday School. During the Summer the attendance grew and in December Brethren S. M. Miller and J. H. Morris held some meetings in this home and twelve of the scholars were con- verted and became members of the Church. The matter of building a house of worship became im- perative. About this time Brethren Garst and Morris met Ralph Cottrell in Tampa and thru his liberality two lots were paid for in the Hamner Subdivision and donated to the Tampa Church.
22
HISTORY OF FLORIDA AND GEORGIA
Since this North-Tampa location was between the two groups of members, the decision was made to build on them. One of the Building Committee, Bro. Haney had received a hundred dollar check for a Christmas present and he turned it over as a beginning for the church. Later checks from J. F. Sanger and J. H. Garst of Sebring and sister Felthouse at Seminole and the work was on the way. Lumber was bought and work was donated by the carpenters at Sebring and Brooksville and soon the house was under roof. The restrictions placed on it by the Hamner Organization caused the Brethren to build much larger than their best judgment told them was necessary and of course increased the cost of construction. Thru the do- nated work, the untiring efforts of the Tampa mem- bers and especially the solicitation among the northern friends of Bro. Haney, the house was finished without a debt. Brethren A. O. Haney, Harvey Landis, John Rigler, Wm. Lind, G. B. Landis and others continued till the work was fully finished. It was dedicated later with Elder J. H. Garst conducting the dedication service.
Late in 1926 Bro. H. M. Landis and wife and two sons came to the Sunny South to make their homes. After a few days in Sebring they came to East Tampa and stayed a short time in the May home and then moved to the shores of Lake Magda- lene in North Tampa. From here it was easy to get to the work at the Church. Soon after Bro. and Sister Landis had located permanently in Tampa,
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